London Plain?

[Alex90]

Hi folks. Where I work there is loads of medium sized London plain tree's. So having no experience of using them before I just wondered what they were most useful for (fire, carving etc...).

Cheers,
Alex

 

[Ed]

I don't know about the wood, but I have used the seeds as squirrel bait.

Ed

 

[Harvestman]

I think (not absolutely sure though) that London Plane wood is known as lacewood. Lacewood is very attractive and used in carving and turning. Check with someone who knows more than me though.

 

[Mesquite]

I think (not absolutely sure though) that London Plane wood is known as lacewood. Lacewood is very attractive and used in carving and turning. Check with someone who knows more than me though.

Lacewood and London plane are different species

 

[Opal]

I wondered too about this tree, found an article which mentioned the North Americans drank the sugary sap, couldn't use a link.

 

[Ed]

The species in N.America that has the sugary sap is Platanus occidentalis, the London plane is thought to be by some as a hybrid of Platanus occidentalis and Platanus orientalis while others say the London plane is a cultivar of Platanus orientalis.

Ed

 

[robin wood]

Lacewood and London plane are different species

Lacewood is the term used in the UK for quarter sawn plane. If it is plain sawn it is a bit boring to be honest but the radial surface showing the medulary rays is very pretty. It is difficult to cleave but carves and turns well.

 

[Mesquite]

Lacewood is the term used in the UK for quarter sawn plane. If it is plain sawn it is a bit boring to be honest but the radial surface showing the medulary rays is very pretty. It is difficult to cleave but carves and turns well.

Tis also a term for wood from the tree species Cardwelis sublimis

 

[robin wood]

Tis also a term for wood from the tree species Cardwelis sublimis

Interesting that two such unrelated trees should have timbers that look not dissimilar. Here is your Australian Northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis)

and here is what we know as lacewood in the UK quarter sawn London plane (Platanus acerifolia)

 

[udamiano]

Interesting, I've got about 6 of these next to the house, and wondered if they could be of any use, apart from dropping the seeds on my head as i walk under that is

 

[Alex90]

Thanks for the replies, makes for interesting reading. I've noticed that the bark peels off them to leave a new yellow coloured bark underneath, so does anyone know if this bark is any good for tinder?